Why Bison Burgers Are All The Rage At Trendy Burger Spots

It wasn't so long ago when bison burgers (sometimes called buffalo burgers) started to pop up on restaurant menus as a novelty, something semi-adventurous eaters could sample if they wanted to expand their horizons with a relatively low risk of disappointment. Within the past few years, however, bison burgers have begun popping up on more and more restaurant menus, and it's not a fad.

If you haven't tried bison, you might as well give it a shot. It tastes very similar to beef, but it's much leaner and has a slightly sweeter, richer flavor. It's also lower in saturated fat than beef, and is high in nutrients including iron, zinc, selenium, vitamin B6, and niacin. And because bison are largely raised on ranches and farms (instead of factory-farmed like most commercial cattle), it's more likely to be grass-fed than your average burger.

The primary reason why bison burgers are popping up on burger joint menus nationwide is no longer just for the novelty factor; it's because more and more people are looking for healthier alternatives to beef. A standard beef burger is made with beef that's around 20 percent fat, but a buffalo burger may contain 10 percent fat or less. The downside if this tradeoff is that bison can easily overcook and dry out, but if kept to medium or less, it can be just as satisfying.

Humans are at the top of the food chain for a reason, so we might as well take advantage of the opportunity to discover new meats when given the opportunity. And because it's healthy, tastes similar to beef, and is sustainable and humanely raised, there's plenty of good reason to sample a bison burger the next time you encounter one. Bison might even make a good substitute patty on some of the 101 best burgers in America!